The Bills are heading into Week 4 with a chance to catch the Patriots at exactly the wrong time for New England and the perfect time for Buffalo.
Buffalo is 3-0 and one of three unbeaten teams in the AFC, and while the schedule stays tough for a bit longer, the next stretch begins to soften as November and December approach. For now, though, the Bills are drawing a few opponents who are stumbling badly, and the Patriots fit that description better than anyone.
New England’s offense has been a mess through three games. Drake Maye has thrown one touchdown pass and six interceptions, which is already just two shy of his total from the entire 2025 season. He’s also lost two fumbles, and the Patriots have struggled to keep drives alive in any meaningful way.
The numbers are ugly across the board. Only 6.7 percent of New England’s offensive drives have ended in touchdowns, the worst rate in the NFL by a wide margin, according to Pro Football Focus. Miami is next at 10.7%, though the Dolphins also lost De’Von Achane for the season because of a significant knee injury, so he won’t be available against Buffalo in either of their upcoming matchups.
Part of the problem in New England is the lack of reliable help in the passing game. A.J.
Brown was supposed to change that, but he went down with a high-ankle injury in Week 1 and is expected to miss another month. Without him, the Patriots simply don’t have much that forces defenses to worry.
The broader metrics paint the same picture. New England sits last in the league in offensive DVOA, and while that doesn’t promise anything for the Bills in Week 4, it does underline how rough this start has been. The Patriots are on pace to be one of the worst offenses in the last 40 years, which is a staggering place to be.
For Buffalo, this is the kind of game that can help cleanly navigate the hardest part of the schedule. A win would push the Bills to 4-0 and give them another conference victory, the kind of start that can set up a strong run toward multiple home playoff games. It’s still early, but the path is starting to open up.
In Other News...
Josh Allen's Knee Suddenly Looms Over Bills Patriots Week
Josh Allens knee has become the latest Bills storyline heading into a division matchup with the Patriots, but there does not appear to be much panic in Buffalo. Offensive coordinator Joe Brady said he is not concerned about the injury Allen picked up in Week 3, and the quarterback is trending toward being available when the Bills line up in Week 4.
Allen was seen limping after the game, which naturally set off some unease given how much Buffalos offense runs through him. The next few practice reports will be the real indicator here, and those updates should offer a better read on whether this is just a brief scare or something the Bills need to monitor more closely through the week. [Read more 🡒]
Josh Allen Injury Worry Just Put Bills Fans On Edge
Bills fans had a brief scare after Josh Allens name came up in the aftermath of the latest game, but the conversation around the quarterback quickly shifted to reassurance from the team. Head coach Joe Brady addressed the concern directly, pushing back on the idea that there is a major issue and stressing the Bills focus as they try to stay steady through the week.
Allens availability always looms large in Buffalo, where everything on offense flows through him, and even a small hint of trouble tends to draw attention fast. The Bills are still in the middle of managing their current stretch, and with Brady emphasizing resilience, the bigger question now is whether this turns out to be nothing more than a momentary worry or the kind of storyline that lingers until the next update. [Read more 🡒]
Patriots Injuries Could Change What Bills Face In Week 4
The Bills are getting a familiar kind of mid-September wrinkle from New England, where the Patriots are piecing together their Week 4 preparation with a crowded injury report. Several starters were absent from practice, including important bodies in the secondary and along the offensive line, and a few players showed up on the report for the first time this season. For Buffalo, it is the sort of development that can alter a game plan before the teams even take the field.
Offensive line shuffling has become a bigger concern with recent injuries to starting guards, forcing backup players into more prominent roles. The Bills will be watching those changes closely, because even a short-handed Patriots front can still affect how Buffalo attacks the matchup. For now, the biggest question is not just who New England will have available, but how much of the Week 4 game plan gets reshaped before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]